Fruit Trees on cordons/espaliers

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

Hi all

I'm looking for advice regarding fruit trees.  Query is in 2 parts:

Part 1

I have ready and waiting to go in
2x apples and 1x pear tree on dwarf rootstock which I intend to plant along the length of my plot to create a bit of a natural screen.  Thinking about growing as espaliers and would appreciate advice/resources on espaliers.  Also - what is the likely 'wingspan' of an apple as espalier?

Part 2
yesterday I bought 4 fruit trees from Lidl which I do not believe are on dwarf rootstock.  I need to know whether it is wise to grow them as espaliers - and if so does this contain the rate of growth well?  As i intend to plant along side the plot I am a little concerned about the circumference of the trunk growing over the years and impinging on the footpath.  I know that would be a way off but is it worth worrying about?

Psi

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

[SteveJ]

Hi Psi,

I can never resist the cheap fruit trees in Lidl and have bought 2 or 3 each year for the past three years (another 2 yesterday).

As space is limited, I have been training them as espaliers at the end of my beds and they are doing OK.  To make my life easier, when I buy the trees I always look for those that have some decent thin & long side branches from the main trunk that can easily be trained.

I have sunk a couple of 8ft poles into the ground approx 2.5M apart, then stretched wires between them.  The flexible side branches are then easy to twist/tie round these.  And as the tree grows upwards, and sends out more side branches, these are also trained.  Once the trees reached optimum size for me the leader is removed to restrict height.  When the trained branches reach the ends of the poles, I then begin to prune them back, this has helped to generate more fruiting spurs.  It is then a case of regular pruning to keep to the size and shape I want. 

I wouldn't be too concerned about the future circumference of the trunk, just set them back a few inches from the side of the plot.
 
I'm no expert, and I'm sure there are better ways of doing it - but this works for me.

Steve